Gum brace



Nov. 25, l1947. J. A. THIEMANN GUM BRACE Filed June 22, 1946 INVENTQg Jvuus L THmnANu Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUM BRACE J iilius A. Thiemann, New York, N.` Y.

Application June 22, 1946,.Serial No. 678,599

(Cl. 12S- 260) 10 Claims. l

It is well known that a youthful facial appearance requires a rm and smooth surface of the skin, unbroken by wrinkles or depressions which are the accompaniment of wasted tissues, missring teeth and so forth.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device to support the facial tissue from the interior of they mouth, the device itself resting `in the space between the gums and theupper or lower lips.

A further object is thatv such a device be light in weight, readily removable, sanitary and comfortable to Wear.

It is a further object of the invention that such a device comprise meansfor the retention of an antiseptic and deodorant substance.

Still another object is that av device of the character described shall bev so cheaply fabricated as to be disposable after a certain period of use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

- In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Y Fig. 1 isa plan view of a blank from which the device of the present invention is fabricated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the device embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the blank Ill from which the oral appliance of the invention is made as hereinafter described. The blank I comprises an elongated body with a straight side II and end boundaries I2 and I3 substantially perpendicular therewith to form square corners. The opposite side boundary of the blank curves inwardly as at I4 to dene a longitudinally central portion I5 which is relatively narrow, and curves outwardly therefrom toward both ends to dei-lne relatively broad wing portions I6 and I1, curving again inwardly as at I8 and I9 to merge with the squared end portions I2 and I3.

In Fig. 2, the blank has been bent and the appliance now comprises the Vgenerally elongated and U-shapedpiece 2|), the central portion I5 of which is identical with the relatively narrow central portion I5 of blank I0, and comprising a single thickness ofv material. Portion I5 is the central portion of the-continuous portion Ia, I5, l5b extending the length of piece 2t and being the same substance as shown on-the one side of dotted line 2| of Fig. 1. This portion I5a, I5, I5b constitutes the interior wall of piece 20, the wing portions I6 and I'I of Fig. 1 becoming exterior-wall portions I6 and I'I of Fig. 2, formed by gently bending wing portions IISY and |1 substantially along line. 2|.so that the end portions 22 and 23 of piece 2fare hollow and of substantially U-cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The terminal portions of the respective exterior and interior walls IS, I5a and I5, I'I are brought together and'lrmly joined conveniently, as shown by an adhesive and protective coating 240i hard rubber or similar material.

Pads 25 of absorbent materialsuch as hospital cotton or the like are inserted between wallsII, I5a and |51), I'I andcornpressively retained. Pads Y25 are-useful for retaining within the mouth any` desired antiseptic or deodorant material lor medication.

While I have illustrated and described the pre- "ferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precisey constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A blank for an oral appliance, said blank comprising a piece of bendable sheet material, said piece being of generally elongated shape and comprising one substantially straight side boundary terminating at each end in substantially square corners, the other side boundary being curved inwardly at the central portion of said piece and outwardly at the end portions, said end portions further being inwardly curved to merge with said square corners.

2. A blank for an oral appliance, said blank comprising a piece of bendable sheet material, said piece being of generally elongated shape and comprising one substantially straight side boundary terminating at each end in substantially square corners, the other side boundary being curved inwardly at the central portion of said 3 piece and outwardly at the end portions to a width substantially double the Width of said central portion, said end portions further being inwardly curved to merge with said square corners.

3. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single thickness at its central portion and exteriorly extending integral wing portions at its ends.

4. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single thickness at its central portion, and wing portions at its ends, said wing portions extending integrally and exteriorly from said central portion to constitute hollow portions of substantially7 U- cross Section.

5. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single thickness at its central portion and Wing portions at its ends, said' wing portions extending integrally and exteriorly from said central portion to constitute hollow portions of substantially U-cross section, the terminal portions of said hollow portions having their walls brought together and joined.

6. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single continuous interior Wall extending throughout the length thereof, said interior wall constituting the central longitudinal portion of said piece, said piece further comprising exterior wall portions extending from said interiorwall portion longitudinally beyond said central wall portion to form end portions of substantially U-cross section.

7. An oral appliance for improving facial con- Ytour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piececomprising a single continuous interior wall extending through- 'out the length thereof, said interior wall constituting the central longitudinal portion of said piece, said piece further comprising exterior wall portions extending from said interior Wall portion longitudinally beyond said central wall portion to form end portions of substantially U-cross section, said exterior and interior portions further being joined together at the ends thereof.

8. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single continuous interior wall extending throughout the length thereof, said interior wall constituting the central longitudinal portion of said piece, said piece further comprising exterior wall portions extending from said interior wall portion longitudinally beyond said central wall portion to form end portions of substantially U-cross section, and means joining said interior and exterior wall portions together at the ends thereof.

9. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming ,generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single continuous interior wall extending throughout the length thereof, said interior wall constituting the central longitudinal portion of said piece, said piece further comprising exterior wall portions extending from said interior Wall portion longitudinally beyond said central wall portion to form end portions of substantially U- cross section, and a wad of absorbent material located between said interior and exterior wall portions.

10. An oral appliance for improving facial contour comprising an elongated piece of bendable material conforming generally to the exterior outline of the human gum, said piece comprising a single continuous interior wall extending throughout the length thereof, said interior wall constituting the central longitudinal portion of said piece, said piece further comprising exterior wall REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,221 Temple s Nov. 12, 1929 2,257 ,709 Anderson Sept. 30, 1941 Edgelow Aug. 16, 1904 

